Opening this weekend February 21st in cinemas around Sydney is Richard Wagner’s grand comedy Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, filmed during a live performance at New York’s Metropolitan Opera and conducted by its Music Director James Levine

Hosted by Renée Fleming, German baritone Michael Volle stars as Hans Sachs, with South African tenor Johan Botha as Walther. Botha was seen in Sydney as Max in Weber’s Der Freischütz about 10 years ago.

German soprano Annette Dasch sings the role of Eva, German baritone Johannes Martin Kränzle makes his Met debut as Beckmesser, German bass Hans-Peter König is Pogner, American tenor Paul Appleby is David, and Scottish mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill is Magdalene. This production will be seen in more than 2,000 cinemas in 69 countries around the world, and is part of the final revival of Otto Schenk’s 1993 Met production.